OPINION: Buildings have always fascinated me. I can trace this back to my childhood when I would watch my grandfather, who was an architect, at work. He would take me into his office and I would see his drawings being transformed into models and then actual buildings. Having the power to create something beautiful from scratch has always filled me with a sense of awe.

Under the Limitation Act insured homeowners only have 6 years from the date of the damaging earthquake(s) within which to sue EQC and insurance companies for compensation. If homeowners do not sue then the claim(s) for money are no longer enforceable. So EQC and insurers will escape without paying. For houses and land damaged in the earthquake(s) on 4 September 2010 court proceedings must be filed by 3 September 2016. That date is fast approaching. Once the limitation period has expired th ...

As well as covering buildings EQC also covers damage to residential land. Homeowners need to progress these claims now. These claims expire if the homeowner does not sue EQC within 6 years of the land damage. The primary claim is for the cost to restore/remediate the land. Do not believe EQC when it tells you that it only needs to pay a difference in value of the land between now and before the earthquakes. EQCover for land is limited to land that is within the property boundary – and includ ...

Some of the Results of our last OVTRK forum on 14 October with Dr Chrys Horn and Sarah Wylie and a focus on An opportunity to direct our recovery, five years on. Any responses to chrys.horn@xtra.co.nz please What would a thriving and fully recovered community sector look like?

CERA is currently surveying all who were Red Zoned and accepted the Government’s (Crown) offer. Research company Neilsen are conducting the survey and invitations to take part started going out via e-mail on the 14th (last week). If you were Red Zoned, and took the offer, you should have received a survey invitation by now. If not it is likely to be the result of a change of e-mail address